INTERRELATION BETWEEN FRUIT MINERAL CONTENT AND PRE-HARVEST CALCIUM TREATMENTS ON ‘GOLDEN SMOOTHEE’ APPLE QUALITY

Abstract

Abstract The effects of different pre-harvest calcium treatments and their interrelation with other nutrients in apples (Malus domestica Borkh, 'Golden Smoothee') on quality attributes at harvest and after cold storage and on relation between calcium (Ca) and other nutrients were investigated. Calcium sprays were applied during three-seasons beginning 60 days after full bloom (DAFB), with 6 or 12 applications in the second part of the growing season. It was confirmed that calcium treatments generally resulted in increased flesh firmness at harvest but not sufficient to maintain during storage. Treatments reduced bitter pit and lenticel blotch pit after cold storage, but these disorders were not totally eliminated. The treatments did not influence evolution of titratable acidity and soluble solids. Total fruit calcium increased with number of applications, but this increase was not proportional with number of applications. The beneficial effect of calcium treatments was reflected in the nitrogen/Calcium (N/Ca), potassium/calcium (K/Ca), and (K+Mg)/Ca ratios. Keywords: appleGolden Smootheecalcium spraysmineral nutrientsquality